Prayers at Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad pass-off peacefully

Police have made elaborate security arrangements by deploying Rapid Action Force and Quick Action Force at the mosque to conduct the prayers peacefully.

The Friday prayers at the historic Mecca Masjid which witnessed bomb explosion last week passed off peacefully on Friday. However, police had to use force to disperse a stone-pelting crowd in the old city area.

Police have made elaborate security arrangements by deploying Rapid Action Force and Quick Action Force at the mosque to conduct the prayers peacefully.

Parking inside the Masjid was prohibited and all the worshippers were thoroughly checked before allowing them to enter through five door frames set up at the entrance.

The mob while coming out from Mecca Masjid was restive and raised slogans after seeing video cameras of various news channels who were taking pictures from a Unani hospital opposite the mosque.

Police used force to disperse them at Guljar House near Charminar in old city.

As the mob raising slogans marched towards Guljar house between Charminar and Madina building, youths who were part of the crowd started pelting stones at police which forced them to resort to cane-charge to control them.

Later, the stone-pelting mob ran in lanes and bylanes after police chased them. The incident caused mild tension in the area. There were reports that a group of people indulged in stone-pelting in Rainbazar area in the old city.

Earlier, amidst tight security the prayers in the Mecca Masjid passed off peacefully. The powerful bomb explosion in the Masjid on May 18 had killed 11 people.